Tooth powder dispenser



Oct.. 19, 1937. J. A. ORIHEL 7 2,096,259

TOOTH POWDER DISPENSER Filed Jan. 13, 1937 'J osEP n A DRlI-IEL INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to improvements in tooth powder dispensers.

Objects of the invention are to provide a dispenser of simple, durable construction, which can be manufactured at a low cost, which may be fixed to a wall or other structure and which may be quickly and conveniently operated to deposit the proper amount of powder on a tooth brush.

Further objects are to provide a powder dispenser which will include means for detachably securing a powder receptacle in an inverted position thereon, to provide a chamber in which a brush may be inserted; to provide an opening through which the contents of said container will flow by gravity to said chamber; to provide a yieldable slide valve for normally closing said opening whereby the valve may be operated by inserting a tooth brush in said chamber and pressing the same against said valve to deposit 20 powder from said container on said brush; to provide an agitating wheel which projects into said container with rack and gear mechanism operable by a movement of said valve to rotate said wheel. r

The above objects are accomplished and-additional ends are attained by the novel construction, hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which there is shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention, it being understood that the invention is not confined to the exact structure illustrated and that changes and modifications may be made which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a powder dispenser constructed in accordance with this invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical, sectional view taken as 40' indicated by the lines 2--! of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional view taken as indicated by the lines 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a horizontal, sectional view taken as indicated by the lines 44 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a plan view of the dispenser taken with the lid removed,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view taken in vertical section as indicated 'bythe lines 66v of Figure 2.

Proceeding now to a detailed description of the 50 invention with reference to the particular adaptation thereof disclosed in the drawing, the numeral 1 denotes a support which as shown in the drawing is in the form of a plate adapted to be attached to a wall or other structure.

The numeral 8 denotes an elongated, rectangular, box-like structure, secured to the plate I and projecting horizontally therefrom. The side and bottom walls of the structure 8 are preferably formed of one piece of sheet metal stamped or otherwise formed to provide a flat, bottom wall 8a and parallel side walls 8b and 80. Each of said walls 812 and 8c is stamped outwardly adjacent the upper edge thereof to provide a horizontal portion 9, then upwardly in the form of a narrow flange Ill. The portions 9 and the, flanges l8 form a slide for the valve member II which is formed of a flat strip positioned with its lateral edge portions supported on the horizontal portions 9.

The strip H is provided with a longitudinally disposed, elongated opening I2. The strip II is also provided adjacent the opening l2 with a longitudinally disposed row of equally spaced openings I3. At the rear end portion of the valve, the strip I I is reduced in width and is bent back underneath itself, then downwardly to provide a vertical wall M, which conforms in shape to the cross sectional shape of the cavity of the structure 8 and which is loosely received therein.

The characters Ila and llb denote side walls which project downwardly from the strip H and extend forwardly from the wall H. The side walls I la and Nb are positioned within the cavity of the structure 8 and taper from the wall M to the forward end of the strip I l. The numeral I I0 denotes a tongue which projects downwardly from the strip II at the rearwardly presented end of the opening [2.

The numeral l5 denotes a coil spring which is positioned in the cavity of the structure 8 so as to be compressed between the rear wall thereof and the wall M. The numeral l6 denotes an elongated lid which is positioned on the structure 8 so as to entirely close the upper side thereof.

The lid I6 is provided on each lateral side thereof with a downwardly turned portion H. which terminates in an inwardly turned flange l8. The lid I6 is adapted to be positioned on the structure 8 with the portions II extending in close, spaced relationto the flanges l8 and with the flanges I8 extending under the horizontal portions 8. The lid I6 is provided at the forward end thereof with a downwardly turned lip I9 which engages the forwardly presented edge of the valve II to limit the forward movement thereof. The lid Hiis provided with an opening which is formed therein at a point intermediate the length thereof.

The numeral 2| denotes a cylindrical socket member which is soldered or otherwise suitably Figures 1," 2 and 3.

secured to the lid [6 and which is positioned around theopening 20. The numerals 22 and 23 denote brackets which project upwardly from the lid l6 and which are positioned within the .Socket member 2| with the brackets 22 and 23 positioned on opposite sides of the opening 20.

The numeral 24 denotes a shaft which is rotatably mounted in suitable openings in the brackets 22 and 23 so as to extend over the opening 20.

The shaft 24 is provided at a point directly above the opening 20 with a paddle wheel 25 and is provided adjacent one end thereof with a gear wheel 26, both of which are fixed thereto. The gear wheel 25 is of larger diameter than the paddle 25 and'extends downwardly through a slot 21 in the lid IS with the teeth 28 of the gear wheel 25 engaging the openings I3 in the strip l l. The numeral 29 denotes a powder containerwhich is provided with a neck 30 adapted to be snugly receivedin the socket member 2|. The powder container 29 is inverted and the neck 30 positioned in the socket member 2| as shown in It will be noted that the elongated opening I2 terminates a sufficient distance from the rear end of the strip H to be normally positioned forwardly of'the opening 20 and that the opening 20 is normally closed by the valve 1 l which is yieldably held in a forward position by the spring l5.

In use, a tooth brush 3| is inserted .inthe forward end of the structure 8 and is moved rearwardly against the wall I4 which, as pressure is applied, moves the member I l rearwardly, causing, the slot l2 to coincide with the opening 20 and permitting powder in the container 29 to flow downwardly through the opening 20 onto the brush 3|.

As the member I I is thus moved rearwardly, the rack formed by the openings [3 rotates the gear wheel 26 thus causing a rotary movement of the paddle wheel 25. The structure 8 is preferably formed of suflicient depth to permit the bristle portion of the conventional form of brush to be moved longitudinally beneath the opening 20 whereby powder from the container 29 is evenly distributed over the full length thereof. As the gear wheel 26 is in positive engagement with the rack l3, the paddle wheel 25-will rotate thus depositing a proper'amount of powder on the brush.

The side walls Ila and Il'b confine the powder to the upturned face of the bristle portion of the brush and the tongue "I I0 prevents the deposit of powder on the extreme end of the brush whereby wasting the powder thus deposited thereon.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as applied to a dispenser'adapted to be elongated casing, means to support said casing 'in a horizontal position, one end of said casing being open; means to detachably secure a powder contain'erto the upper side of said casing,

the upper wall of said casing provided with an opening for discharging powder from said container to said casing; a valve for controlling said opening, said valve including a slide, meansto yieldably hold said valve in a closed position, said valve adapted to be opened by inserting a tooth brush in the open end of said casing and exerting a pressure on said slide; a rotatable agitator positioned on said casing and projecting into said container and means operable by a movement of said slide for rotating said agitator.

2. In a device of the character described, an elongated casing having an open end, means associated with the upper wall of said casing for detachably securing a powder container thereon; the upper wall 'of said casing provided with an opening leading from said container to said casing; a slide valve controlling said opening, means yieldably holding said valve in a closed position,

' controlling said opening, yieldable means for holding said valve in a closed position, a member projecting dcwnwardlyfrom said slide into the cavity of said casing, said valve adapted to be opened by inserting a brush in said casing and applying suflicient pressure to said member to move the slide rearwardly, said slide having a longitudinally directed row of openings forming a rack, an agitator wheel in said socket, a gear for driving said agitator wheel, said gear operatively connected to said rack.

4. In a tooth powder dispenser, an elongated casing having an open end, a socket member on the upper side of said casing, said socket member adapted to receive the neck of apowder container to detachably hold the same in an inverted position thereon; the upper wall of said casing provided with an opening forming an outlet passage from said socket member, a rotatable agitating wheelin said socket member, a gear for driving'said wheel, a rack for rotating said gear and a member projecting downwardlyfrom said rack into said casing, said rack adapted to be moved by inserting a tooth brush in the open end of said casing and exerting a pressure on said member. I i

5. In a tooth powder dispenser, an open ended casing, means to support the same in a horizontal position, a socket member on the upper wall of said casing, said socket member adapted to receive the neck of a powder container to detachably hold the same in an inverted position thereon, a rotatably mounted agitating wheel in said socket member, a gear co-axially fixed to said wheel, a slide having a longitudinally disposed row of openings forming a rack, the teeth of said gear being in mesh with the openings in said rack, a member projecting downwardly from said slide into said casing and yieldable means for holding the slide in a forward position whereby a tooth brush may be inserted through the open end of said casing to move said slide and deposit powder from said container thereon. 

